The first ever 3.0 Doubles Championships, a one-day shoot-out and show down, took place at the beeeeeee-u-tiful new Towpath Tennis Center, and what a doozy of an event it turned out to be! With some of the best local 3.0 doubles talents imaginable in attendance (IMAGINE IT!), the event gave all 3.0 fans what they wanted - 3.0 level tennis!
Read on to find out who won, how they won, and perhaps ... WHY they won!
(And while you're at it, read up on the pre-event Previews, Profiles, and Predictions here!)
Round Robin #1
Abhi & Giju d. David & Travis, 5-1*
While the event started at 8am, most players and teams arrived a good 30' earlier to warmup. Not David and Travis, who, perhaps resting on their Vice-Championship status from their summer Akron Open 3.0 Doubles appearance, showed up fashionably on-time right at 8am. Thus, while they got most the attention from the assembled paparazzi, they did suffer from the unfortunate fact they were not warmed up and did not have a clear understanding of the rules, two factors that may have shown up in their opening match. The third factor proved to be the most significant, however, and that was the fact that Abhi and Giju were on fire! Abhi's power, combined with Giju's defense, proved a tag-team that David and Travis just couldn't figure out, and as a result, despite some close initial games, the prepared and warmed up duo made quick work of last summer's runner-ups. In fact, they made such quick work of their opponents that David and Travis threw in the white tennis towel when down 5-1, even though the matches were first to six games. Was it because they knew they were defeated? Or because they didn't know the rules? Yes!
Robert & Robert d. Will & Scott, 6-5
In the marquee match of the first Round Robin, doubles veterans Robert and Robert faced off against Will and Scott. Robert, one of the winningest 3.0 players in 3.0 history, was also last summer's Akron Open 3.0 Doubles champion, and thus brought not just wins, but massive amounts of tournament experience as well. His partner Robert was no stranger to winning either, and brought nearly 50 career 3.0 wins to the table! But on the other side of the court stood one of the legends of 3.0 doubles play, Will, who was inching closer to 50 3.0 wins himself, who was partnered with Scott, who brings an all-out hustle and a relationship with tennis royalty, an intangible that simply cannot be denied! And thus, not surprisingly, this matchup of doubles titans went back and forth, with Robert's all-court game matching Will's slice and dice while Scott's hustle countered Robert's veteran moxie. In the end, the match unsurprisingly went to a final deciding game, and The Robert's winning pedigree simply would not be denied as they came back from 0-40 to not only tie up the game, but then take the winning point and thus the set. WOW! What an opening match by two legendary teams! No wonder this was the marquee match of the opening round and rightly on court numero uno!
Debabrata & Ben d. Clay & John, 6-1
Debabrata, like Robert, was used to the Towpath courts as he too had hoisted a championship trophy as the 2020 Akron Open 3.0 Doubles champion! His partner Ben, a veteran of many a 3.0 doubles match, faced off versus the combined skill of two of the best examples of all-out hustle you'll ever see, Clay and John. The backcourt play of Ben and the net play of Debabrata, however, were, just like during the summer, too good, and as a result, Debabrata continued his winning streak on the Towpath courts!
Round Robin #2
David & Travis d. Clay & John, 6-0
Two 0-1 teams faced off in Round #2 looking to get some good tennis mojo going, and for these two teams it was a rematch of their summer face-off when the two met at the Akron Open 3.0 Doubles tournament. And just like then, Clay and John brought their trademark hustle, never giving up on a point the entire match. David and Travis, however, after being humiliated the previous match and learning some of the actual rules of the event, came out strong, with David's net play suffocating the net and with Travis actually learning how to serve, the slightly younger duo was able to eek out a win that was a lot closer than the score indicated (and also learn that the event was being played no-Ad scoring, which showed that maybe by the time the tournament was over, David and Travis might actually learn all the rules of the tournament). Indeed, as three of the games went to the no-Ad winner-take-all point, it was clear that while David and Travis may have won the match, Clay and John were in it to win it!
Abhi & Giju d. Will & Scott, 6-3
After their emotionally exhausting opening matchup, Will and Scott had to face off versus the brute force power of Abhi and the soft deft hands of Giju, and, not surprisingly, there was a bit of an emotional let down. But Will and Scott, two 3.0 veterans, wouldn't go down without a proverbial 3.0 fight, and proverbially fight they did! But alas, the tag team duo of Abhi and Giju, led by Abhi's tournament experience, were able to blunt their opponent's attempts to rally and thus move on to an impressive opening 2-0 tournament mark.
Robert & Robert d. Debabrata & Ben, 6-4
The two remaining undefeated teams faced off in a doozy of a match, made all the more intriguing in that these two pairings were actually, in league play, teammates! Add to that that Robert and Debabrata had gone undefeated on these courts during their 2020 Akron Doubles 3.0 tournament championship run, and this match turned out to be just as good as everyone in attendance (the three people working that day in Towpath's new amazingly gorgeous clubhouse) had expected! Ben and Robert's backcourt play went head to head while Debabrata and Robert faced off at the net, and not surprisingly, this match ended in an incredibly close finish. And while The Robert's emerged victorious, it was really the fans who were the winners, as these two great teams - and great teammates - put on a fantastic 3.0 show to end Round Robin #2!
Round Robin #3
David & Travis d. Will & Scott, 6-3
David and Travis, riding high off of their first win of the event and the fact they now knew almost all the rules of said event, went into their third match with a level of confidence that was probably not warranted given their relative talent level. Meanwhile, Will and Scott had just completed two grueling matches against the two top teams in the event, and were no doubt dealing with the emotional toll that such high-level 3.0 tennis no doubt brings. But bring it, they did! Scott's blistering forehand, combined with Will's crafty slices, kept the overconfident David and Travis on their heels, and the match went back and forth as both sides held serve at 3-3. At that point, though, David and Travis unleashed numerous winners, first a winner off of David's frame (because why use the strings?) and then a mishit-smash off David's frame (mishit or misdirection?) and then Travis hitting "a shot so bad of course it was in." Indeed! With such talent*, David and Travis won the set 5-3. Until they were told by Will that they had to get six wins first. That, my friends, is confidence!
Abhi & Giju d. Robert & Robert, 6-1
Round Robin #3 saw the two undefeated teams match up in what would go a long way toward deciding the eventual tournament champion. And in this big match you had Robert, who was currently on a eight match Towpath winning streak dating back to July of 2020, versus Abhi, who was in the same event and thus gained valuable tournament experience! Thus, both took on leadership roles to get their teammates ready for what was no doubt the biggest match of their entire lives (no hyperbole there!). And in said match, Abhi's experience and thirst for victory proved the difference, as he amped up his already powerful game, putting The Robert's on the defensive while the amazing court coverage and defense of Giju sliced and diced the heretofore undefeated Robert's with agonizing drop shots. In the end, Abhi achieve 3.0 vengeance and The Robert's, despite a terrific attempt, could only tip their tennis headbands to their opponents.
Debabrata & Ben d. Clay & John, 6-1
Debabrata, coming off his first ever loss on the Towpath courts, was fired up to get back on a winning streak, but to do so, he'd have to outhustle tournament fan favorites Clay and John. In fact, Clay and John were given a pep-talk by none other than Towpath's resident professional, Greg, and were raring to go to get back in the event. Coming out strong with their now well-known all-out court coverage and hustle, Debabrata and Ben were initially put on their heels! But these two are veterans of the 3.0 tennis wars for a reason, and after steadying their 3.0 ship, got back in the match with their well-known team work to get back on the winning track!
Round Robin #4
David & Travis d. Debabrata & Ben, 6-1
The penultimate Round Robin match would see two teams still in the running for the tournament title as both squads had but one loss to their name. But David and Travis, who had faced off versus Debabrata at the 2020 Akron Open 3.0 doubles event, still had emotionally scarring from the 3.0 beat-down they had suffered at the hands of one of the best net players in all of 3.0 doubles. Yet, perhaps inspired by said loss, David and Travis came out strong, playing the best 3.0 tennis they would play the entire tournament, if not the year, or ... ever. David's backhand in particular was en fuego. Travis actually learned how to return serves. And both players unleashed serves the likes of which no one - including themselves - had seen; both players played at the net like they actually knew how to play at the net; and both players played strategic doubles as doubles partners rather than two random guys playing singles on the same court. Thanks to this Haley's Comet once-in-a-lifetime-like experience, David and Travis not only surprised themselves, but their opponents as well, and ran off to a 5-0 lead. Debabrata and Ben, though, we're going to go easily, and they rallied late to push the set, making David and Travis grip a bit before they (luckily) ended the set with a surprisingly well-earned win that, for the moment, kept them in the title race.
Robert & Robert d. Clay & John, 6-0
The Robert's, needing a victory to stay in the hunt for the shiny, shiny plastic trophy, came out inspired after their previous, and first, loss, hitting the corners with deft forehands to keep Clay and John on their heels. And despite the seemingly lopsided score, Clay and John continued to exhibit their trademark hustle that has made them a household 3.0 name in 3.0 circles! But with their win, Team Robert were still on path for the title, though they now needed a bit of help!
Abhi & Giju d. Will & Scott, 6-3
Abhi and Giju, knowing that with a win they would be in the drivers seat for the Towpath Doubles Title, brought their "A" game to the courts, but Will and Scott, hard-luck losers in their previous matches who had pushed all their opponents to the brink, were standing in their way (quite literally). Long, long rallies took place, with Abhi and Scott trading powerful forehands and Giju and Will going tit-for-tat with cutting slices. Both teams played incredibly well, with Abhi and Giju trying to sew up their title run and Will and Scott trying to play spoiler, but when the big points were up for grabs, Abhi's Towpath tournament experience proved the difference, and in an incredibly close match, Abhi and Giju had nearly sealed up the Towpath 3.0 Doubles title!
We say nearly, because even though the pair had the best record and were undefeated, if they lost their next match and The Robert's won their next match, it would be a ... tie?! WHOA!
Round Robin #5
Will & Scott d. Clay & John, 6-2
Before the championship matches, the two hardest working teams went at it. Indeed, Will and Scott, though still looking for their first team victory of the day, had pushed each and every team to the limit, getting agonizingly close to victory each time they were on the court. Meanwhile, Clay and John, the young kids of the tournament, had impressed everyone with their hustle and desire. Thus, it's no surprise that these two teams went at it in heroic fashion, and while Will and Scott ended the match as the victors, it can be clearly said that both teams were victorious on this day, as both teams showed enormous 3.0 tennis mettle throughout the entire event!
Robert & Robert d. David & Travis, 6-5
On court three (which David and Travis never had to move from, by the way), The Robert's had to take care of tennis business, and that meant taking down resurgent David and Travis, who had started slow but had heated up as the tournament had gone on (probably thanks to actually warming up as the tournament had gone on). Full of confidence, David had found his backhand while Travis had found an actual adult serve. Said confidence was immediately smacked down, however, for Team Robert immediately won the first game to show they meant 3.0 business. Back and forth this match went which each side holding serve until at 3-3, The Robert's experience and savvy broke the match on an all important game-deciding deuce point. Consolidating the game and up 5-3, The Robert's were one game away from potential tournament glory. But David and Travis did the unexpected - they made a come back! At 5-5, the entire fate of the tournament rested on this next game, and at that point David and Travis realized that if they somehow won this game, they would have a miraculous chance at the title! HUBBA-WHAT?! Realizing this, they immediately ... choked. Huzzah! Although, to be fair, Robert had an amazing backhanded get for a winner to put the game, and thus the set, away! David and Travis could take solace in playing well, but their tournament run was now complete with a 3-2 record. As for Team Robert, they still had a chance, for at 4-1, if Abhi and Giju faltered, they'd have equal records! So with that in mind, all eyes waited to see what happened on Court One!
Debabrata & Ben d. Abhi & Giju, 6-4
In an intense match in which Debabrata and Ben were playing potential spoilers, Abhi and Giju needed the win to sew up their first ever tournament title! Back and forth they went, Ben and Abhi patrolling the backcourt while Debabrata and Giju covered the net. Slices, lobs, and powerful forehands exploded back and forth, and Debabrata and Ben put all their effort into this match, taking an early lead. But Abhi, who no doubt had been thinking of this moment since last July, exhibited the leadership and experience every great team needs, and he rallied his team to get back in the match and even it up. In the end, Debabrata and Ben, playing inspired, pulled the mild upset to take the lead and eventually the set, throwing the entire tournament into 3.0 chaos!!
Final Results
With two teams tied at 4-1, who would be the winners?! As it turns out, the ultimate tie-breaker is games won, and when all was said and done, Team Robert had 25 total games won while Abhi and Giju had ... 28 total games won! WOW! Abhi and Giju, in the closest 3.0 tournament result EVER (we think) took home their first 3.0 tournament championship EVER (we know)! Congratulations to both on a fantastic tournament run!
Final Standings
Abhi & Giju - 4-1 (28 games won)
The Roberts - 4-1 (25 games won)
David & Travis - 3-2 (24 games won)
Deb & Ben - 3-2 (23 games won)
Will & Scott - 1-4
John & Clay - 0-5
Fun Facts
- Will earned his 49th career 3.0 victory! His next victory will not only be his golden anniversary victory but will also put him in line for DFO Hall of 3.0 Fame consideration! WOW!
- David notched his 24th career victory, making him almost half the man Will is!
- Robert is now at 48 career wins, putting him just two away from DFO Hall of 3.0 Fame consideration!
- Robert enjoyed his 76th career victory, which is 4th ... all-time! (also, we know you don't know which one we are talking about as we've never distinguished between the two, but that is part of their success as a doubles team ... which is which?!)
- Travis took home his 78th career win, making him 3rd all-time on the career 3.0 wins list! WOW! That's a lot of low-level tennis...
Congratulations to all on a great day, a great event, and a great showing of 3.0 tennis!
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